EXCLUSIVE: This is a story that would inspire all the hard-working, underpaid assistants in Hollywood. Five months ago, one of them started a Hollywood Assistants Tumblr blog where assistants share their grievances, illustrating them with snippets from movies and TV shows. Now she has sold a TV comedy to CBS inspired by the blog, which has Fred Savage attached to direct and executive produce. The blog’s creator had vowed to remain anonymous until she sold a TV project, so we can now reveal her identity — Lauren Bachelis. Bachelis will write and serve as supervising producer on the project, titled 20-Nothings, which revolves around five over-educated 20-nothings living in Los Angeles who do whatever it takes to achieve their Hollywood dreams. CBS Studios, where Savage is under an overall deal, will produce.

Bachelis launched the Hollywood Assistants blog in May, while working as an assistant at CAA where she spent nearly a year before landing a job as assistant to New Girl creator/executive producer Liz Meriweather. Bachelis worked on the show for a couple of months, leaving on Aug. 3. The following week, she landed a blind script deal at CBS Studios, which led to 20-Nothings. Bachelis, who is now repped by CAA and Mosaic, started off doing internships on NBC’s Heroes for NBC and at PR firm Rogers & Cowan and served as a production assistant on Judge Judy. She continues to update the Hollywood Assistants blog every day.

Actor Savage, repped by CAA and Karl Austen, has carved out a great second career as a TV comedy director, helming episodes of such top series as 2 Broke Girls and Modern Family.

127 Comments

Aggregator • on Oct 10, 2012 10:16 am

Once again Hollywood goes into inside-baseball mode. NO ONE CARES ABOUT HOW HOLLYWOOD WORKS. No one. That sheer number of movies and television shows about the behind-the-scenes action of Hollywood which have failed are infinite, and the number of them which have been successful number exactly two: The Player and Entourage. Middle America doesn’t want to watch the adventures of whiny over-educated 20-nothings whining that their boss is making them pick up his kids and wash his car… no one cares except for Hollywood.

Fan of Bachelis • on Oct 10, 2012 10:42 am

I can’t wait until she proves you wrong. This is a unique workplace comedy, and it will exist as such. People will care. Her original samples are fantastic. She will fucking rock this pilot.

Ego much? • on Oct 10, 2012 12:20 pm

Her facebook cover photo is a picture of Audrey Hepburn with the quote, “I never think of myself as an icon. I just do my thing.”

Jealous Much? • on Oct 10, 2012 2:33 pm

Since when is posting a favorite quote by a famous actress indicative of an ego? To all you haters, this kid is fresh and doing exactly what you can’t so enjoy being the trolls who criticize other people’s success instead of spending that energy advancing your own endeavors

jo • on Oct 10, 2012 3:01 pm

Everything you need to know about Lauren’s talent you can tell from her Twitter. Not a single funny joke there, just someone trying to be funny.

Good point, Lauren • on Oct 15, 2012 6:52 pm

Yes, ripping off #whatshouldwecallme is 100% something I can’t do. Now I realize why I’m such a failure. Thanks!

Sf • on Oct 10, 2012 10:49 am

Entourage was funny for a few seasons till the joke ran dry. Even when it was good, the business centric characters – Ari, Lloyd and Drama – were the best part. The personal draa/hanging around the mansions stuff with E and Vince got tedious much more quickly, so yeah, a show about the Lloyds of the world could be very funny, taking the best part of Entourage and discarding the rest.

O Rly? • on Oct 10, 2012 1:04 pm

Lighten up, Francis.

Forget the framing. This show promises to be a good workplace comedy, irrespective of what the actual workplace actually is.

Looks like fun. Yeah, I’m jaded and old, but I hope it makes it through development. I’d watch.

overeducated20something • on Oct 10, 2012 4:54 pm

Clearly whomever posted this has it all figured out. Clearly they have ‘Middle America’ all figured out. And most clearly of all, this person has never worked (or at least been good at) development. I’m sure this obviously clairvoyant individual prophesied another show about ‘whiny over-educated 20-somethings’ called GIRLS was going to fail too.

Lauren-congrats. I can’t wait to see you prove this philistine wrong.

uh • on Oct 11, 2012 12:39 am

Uh, you’re comparing this girl with a terrible Twiiter featuring bad attempts at jokes to Lena Dunham, whose articles in The New Yorker read better than most any prose out there? Many people don’t like TINY FURNITURE, but Dunham made an actual movie, as well as one before that. GIRLS isn’t some huge hit, but read her essay about Nora Ephron. This assistant runs an assistant blog, and maybe her specs are good, but don’t compare her to Lena Dunham, or anyone else for that matter.

elf • on Oct 10, 2012 6:01 pm

I don’t go to bars but I liked Cheers. I don’t buy or sell paper and office supplies but I like The Office. If a show is funny and the characters are fun to watch then the setting can almost be incidental.

TV Fan • on Oct 10, 2012 9:48 pm

The best part of this story is FRED SAVAGE. That dude is great.

It sounds like Laura might have commitment issues. But good for her anyway.

marie • on Oct 12, 2012 5:39 pm

don’t forget “Swimming with Sharks”

hope • on Oct 10, 2012 10:17 am

Dear god. Really? I’m not a writer nor trying to be but as someone who respects the development process I feel like this has to be a joke. It’s a mildly amusing blog ripped from a better blog (What Should We Call Me) and more than half the time the memes are brutally forced to match the “clever” quip. God I hope her spec is good or this is the most depressing announcement of the year.

Lee • on Oct 10, 2012 10:20 am

Excuse me, but what about Hollywood Temp Diaries and “Temp X”? Congrats to Lauren, as she is very lucky. Hollywood Temp Diaries has been around forever, though, and its also a brilliant assistant blog. Cheers.

connections • on Oct 10, 2012 10:45 am

Yeah but they probably didn’t work at CAA. Once again, this industry is all about connections.

Plus, her blog and this show sounds like a rip off of DREAM ON.

a hollywood assistant • on Oct 10, 2012 10:21 am

congrats to Lauren!

odd, right? • on Oct 10, 2012 10:22 am

Great that this woman sold this show, good for her. But what I don’t understand is how she got a blind script deal. Can anyone help explain?

J • on Oct 10, 2012 10:34 am

I am super confused by this as well…how does this young woman get a blind deal? Does everyone simply want to be in business with Chernin and/or Meriwether and their spawn?

Seriously? • on Oct 10, 2012 10:49 am

It’s called merit. She wrote great original samples, and people loved them. I’m not sure why everyone is so perplexed by this…

Lee • on Oct 10, 2012 11:06 am

All good Seriously? That’s a legit answer. But since it wasn’t addressed in the article, it was also a legit question. Good to know there was a reason behind the deal, that’s all.

odd, right? • on Oct 10, 2012 11:07 am

Merit is definitely a factor. But there’s a lot of merit and great samples around. So, selling the project makes sense. BUT a blind deal? That’s what is perplexing. How many writers do you know who got a blind deal?

oe • on Oct 14, 2012 12:21 pm

I wrote one spec pilot and got a blind script deal with a tv studio for my first paid writing gig around a year ago. I’m not sure it’s that weird. You don’t hear about the blind deals on Deadline unless they turn into something that sells at a network. Which is to say, good for her; she must have delivered in the pitch.

realitycheck • on Oct 10, 2012 11:21 am

Do the people she got “inspired” from the blog get anything for it? I’m just curious how she’s able to (openly) take other people’s experiences without them wanting a piece of it??

TempX2.0 • on Oct 10, 2012 10:22 am

I know one person who isn’t going to be too happy about this — Temp X!

LA2000 • on Oct 10, 2012 4:55 pm

Not so fast.

If the “20 Nothings” show clicks, you can bet every other network and studio will be looking to xerox the magic.

NT • on Oct 10, 2012 10:25 am

Congratulations Lauren!! Love the blog and super excited to see that she had success with her TV script!

Blogs are adapted all the time. It’s the voice behind them that the networks are investing in.

Who Asked You anyway • on Oct 10, 2012 10:30 am

So much for EVERYONE who chants – no industry stuff, no one wants stories, movies, tv shows or ANYTHING about Hollywood and/or the business. So if NO ONE IS BUYING how come this talented young woman sold something???

Lee • on Oct 10, 2012 10:45 am

Agree with you, Who Asked You…not to mention the fact that the griper above left out “Swimming with Sharks.” :)

You asked by posting • on Oct 10, 2012 10:46 am

Oh the industry is buying. Its just the rest of america what won’t buy what the industry is reselling.

Smiley from the horror movie Smiley • on Oct 10, 2012 2:00 pm

The industry is buying what they think is good material that they can sell.

Bees • on Oct 10, 2012 10:31 am

Two fists pumps for originality! Congrats, Lauren!

Anonymous • on Oct 10, 2012 10:31 am

I honestly don’t see how this is a show. I’m so sick of blogs/twitter accounts/tumblrs turning into pilots.
-Hollywood Assistant

bubi • on Oct 10, 2012 12:15 pm

If you hadn’t signed it “-Hollywood Assistant,” I wouldn’t have made the assumption you’re probably jealous.

Lauren • on Oct 10, 2012 10:33 am

This sounds like something I want to see! I can’t wait to hear more about this exciting, upcoming show that seems to rep us 20-something underdogs!

Dan • on Oct 10, 2012 10:36 am

As Zach Galifianakis says, “Log that under Who Gives A Shit.”

Another Hollywood Assistant • on Oct 10, 2012 10:40 am

This girl is the funniest person I know! Congrats, Lauren!

Temptastic • on Oct 10, 2012 10:41 am

People, pour out the hatorade and be happy for her. Congrats Lauren

Jeff • on Oct 10, 2012 10:42 am

as a Hollywood assistant, I promise no one cares about hollywood assistants besides other hollywood assistants…this is obnoxious self-gratification at its finest…

Deej • on Oct 10, 2012 11:23 am

then why does this non-hollywood assistant in Vancouver care? I like these kinds of shows.

Jeff • on Oct 10, 2012 2:10 pm

of course you do, Lauren…way to refer to your series of memes as a “blog” by the way…really on the cusp of what’s hip…

30 Rock says hello. I would argue that while behind the scenes is certainly not new, in terms of hitting the topic from the vantage point of young assistants/desk slaves…that’s relatively new. Congrats!

except • on Oct 10, 2012 10:56 am

Except for the pilot shot absolutely every year in this space. Last year’s was called Assistants. The one the year before that was called Assistants. I think the year before last they may have thrown a “The” in front of Assistants. I’m sorry…but there’s nothing new here.

beastmode • on Oct 10, 2012 10:42 am

This is awesome. Truly great on so many different levels. Congrats. This will most likely be a successful show if done well, with all the support from the generation it speaks about.

Anonymous • on Oct 10, 2012 10:48 am

One more post: As a hwood asst, I’m so sick of hearing the term “over qualified.” If you think you’re too smart to be on a desk go to medical school and do something actually important. And for the love of gd stop complaining about answering phones for an ass hole when this is what you moved here to do.

MyKindofOldSchool! • on Oct 10, 2012 12:14 pm

Amen, brother/anonymous! Come on, Hollywood agency assistants have been taking shite FOREVER in this town — it comes with the turf when working for the agency gatekeepers! The only difference now is that young Assistants today get to have anonymous blogs, Twitter, Facebook, all types of social media to do their bitching and whining ad nauseum!

Sure, I feel bad for the crap Assistants take from largely over-blown egos in the Agency ranks, but it’s ALWAYS been part of the landscape and you know what you’re getting into. Think of it as like you are being “rushed” and go through holy hell in Fraternity HAZING rituals (but for a few years longer, unfortunately) — then you get in as a Brother or Sister (“Agent” in this case) and you are now entitled to give your future Assistant the same kind of crap. it’s an “evil cycle,” but it’s just part-and-parcel with the Hollywood gatekeeper business! Deal with it!

And, frankly, there are Assistants in all sorts of businesses and corporations taking the same kind of abuse and crap every day — and, guess what, they really do NOT want to re-live it watching some kind of tired sitcom concept like this re-dressed (after all, CBS did the funny but short-lived “The Famous Teddy Z” some 23 years earlier; Fox had “Action” in 2000; and HBO already did “Entourage”) as some kind of New Media/Blog take on the perceived cruelties of the Agency business.

I’m happy for Bachelis getting this deal, but be prepared if it is only a 9-episode-and-out run — but this will open doors for you nonetheless! Get while the getting is good, I guess.

Dalvin • on Oct 10, 2012 10:49 am

everything about this story makes me hate Hollywood even more. I checked out that blog once, its like it was written by an ADD tweener. I cannot believe this amateur is now a fellow Writer’s Guild member.

flashman1854 • on Oct 20, 2012 10:41 am

Dalvin:
Me thinks you’re more worried about the new competition, than having any artistic complaint.
The girl took a swing, she got a hit, maybe even an RBI double; she may well strike out the next time. So what?
Why the hell should you care?
Unless you’re a jealous failure.

Teddy Z • on Oct 10, 2012 10:51 am

The only people who would think this is new are young assistants.

DaddySugar • on Oct 10, 2012 11:13 am

And they seem to not be working so much this morning. I’m willing to bet 97% of the comments are made by them. Underpaid, but not overworked…

Dani • on Oct 10, 2012 12:01 pm

As a young assistant with young assistant friends and coworkers, I can promise you that most young assistants think this is dumb #vomit

Temis • on Oct 10, 2012 10:52 am

When do we see Deadline as a CBS comedy?

Emily Owens • on Oct 10, 2012 10:53 am

SO PROUD OF LAUREN!!!!! Very exciting and SO well deserved

Zeke • on Oct 10, 2012 10:55 am

Props to Lauren. Haters gonna hate. Most Hollywood assistants do nothing except go to work, bitch and complain and go to sleep wishful thinking. This girl actually did something on the side that developed a following. Call it luck, injustice etc. The fact is, she showed us another side of her and undertook a creative endeavor. To the rest of you assistants who mull away at your phones with no other side-moves or actual plans of spurring your next big break, get over yourselves.

AS • on Oct 10, 2012 12:19 pm

totally agree.

m • on Oct 10, 2012 2:12 pm

making a few posts on tumblr isn’t a large endeavor. any fourteen year old girl does it and gets more likes/reblogs than any of the posts her blog got. if it had decent number i would maybe get it but her numbers are in the single digits for the most part for each post…. come on.

CynicalCritic • on Oct 10, 2012 10:55 am

It really is a black era in television history in which networks cull internet blogs for series ideas.